Kaohsiung: TSG Hawks’ Home City

　Kaohsiung residents’ longing for a local professional baseball team has finally come to an end! The TSG Hawks, a Kaohsiung-based team owned by Taiwan Steel Group (TSG), officially entered Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) as the league’s sixth team on April 27, 2022.

　TSG has committed NT$100 million to the local baseball revitalization fund. With Chengcing Lake Stadium as its home field, the team strives to strengthen its roots in Kaohsiung, and aims to build “a team loved by Kaohsiung citizens.”

　The TSG Hawks hired Lin Chen-hsien as team coordinator to organize the team from scratch. They are scheduled to compete in CPBL’s Minor League in 2023 to accumulate practical experience, and then make their Major League debut in 2024.

　Hoping to usher in a golden age for southern fans who have been crying out to see determined players at their best, the TSG Hawks have been actively building up their strength. The first player signed by the team is the no. 1 pick in the 2022 CPBL draft: shortstop Zeng Zih-you, a graduate of Taoyuan Municipal Pingjen Senior High School. Recruiting local players is an important facet of the team’s commitment to its home city. Accordingly, this year, of the 30 young players selected by the TSG Hawks, 10 live or study in Kaohsiung.

　The TSG Hawks began training this September, and it has hired Hirokazu Ibata, an Olympic gold medalist and recipient of seven Nippon Professional Baseball Golden Gloves, to serve as a special instructor (infield defense coach) to impart various theories and concepts to the players. By moves such as these, the TSG Hawks are injecting new vigor and vitality into Taiwan’s professional baseball scene.

　In preparation for the opening of the 2023 season, the TSG Hawks are interacting and exchanging ideas with schools and teams in Kaohsiung as part of the local baseball revitalization plan. This October, Hirokazu Ibata led players including Huang Bing-yang, Ciou Bang, and Sun Yi-shen to visit Kao-Yuan Vocational High School of Technology & Commerce. The TSG Hawks offered guidance and instruction to the school’s baseball team. Lin Chen-hsien was also present to exchange ideas with coaches and players.

　Next year, fans of the TSG Hawks will be able to see the team in action at Chengcing Lake Stadium. From 2028, the Yellow Line of the Kaohsiung Metro will serve the Chengcing Lake area, making it even more convenient for fans to come and watch games. Southern Taiwan’s baseball paradise is sure to get fans’ adrenaline flowing!

高雄主場 台鋼雄鷹棒球隊

　　高雄人引頸企盼能擁有城市職棒隊的心願，終於實現！由台鋼集團籌組的雄鷹隊，於今（2022）年4月27日通過中華職棒（CPBL）常務理事會，成為中職第六隊，並投入1億元地方棒球振興基金，以高雄澄清湖棒球場為主場，全力扎根在地實力，台鋼雄鷹以打造「受到高雄市民喜愛的球隊」為目標。

　　台鋼雄鷹邀請林振賢擔任執行統籌教練，從零開始籌組球團，將在2023年進入二軍累積實戰經驗，2024年投入一軍賽事。

希望讓南部球迷為場上拚搏的地主球員熱血吶喊黃金時代，台鋼雄鷹團隊積極佈署戰力。球團簽下首位選手是2022中華職棒新人選秀會狀元─畢業於桃園平鎮高中游擊手曾子祐。值得一提的是，今年台鋼雄鷹選入30名年輕好手，當中10名選手居住或就讀於高雄，網羅在地球員，是球隊在地化重要方針。

　　9月，台鋼雄鷹於迎來球隊集訓，特別聘請七屆日本職棒中央聯盟游擊金手套，也是奧運金牌守備教練日籍井端弘和擔任客座內野守備教練，傳授球員多元的棒球觀念與技術。台鋼雄鷹正為臺灣職棒運動注入全新的力量。

　　迎接2023年賽季開幕，台鋼雄鷹積極和高雄的學校、球隊交流，並投入地方棒球振興計劃，今年10月，台鋼雄鷹造訪高苑工商，客座內野守備教練井端弘和帶著選手黃秉揚、邱邦、孫易伸到場指導高苑工商青棒隊選手，統籌教練林振賢也到場與教練、選手交流、切磋。

　　台鋼雄鷹與球迷們相約明年澄清湖棒球場見！ 2028年，高雄捷運黃線將行經澄清湖球場，便利球迷前來觀看球賽，高雄將成為台灣最熱血的棒球世界。